University College Dublin - Ireland

Why Dublin?

Global Business  
The European headquarters capital - Home to over 1,000 multinational companies including Google, Microsoft, Facebook, KPMG, Citibank, Deloitte, Eli Lilly, Glaxo Smith Kline and Pfizer. 

World class education  
Top 200 world ranked universities  University College Dublin 161 (THE 2013/14) & 
139 (QS 2013) Trinity College Dublin 129 (THE 2013/14) & 61 (QS 2013).

Post Study Work  
The only native English-speaking European city to offer international students a one year postgraduate visa.  

Work experience  
Work placements & internship form part of the curriculum on many of the degree programmes. 

Why University College Dublin? 

1. Ranked in the top 200 universities in the world with many subjects ranked top 100, 150 or 200.   
2. Irelands largest, most international university – a modern campus set in a 350 acre park land site.  
3. Triple accreditation - The Quinn School of Business is 1 of only 59 business schools to hold AACSB (US), EQUIS (Europe) & AMBA (UK) accreditation.  
4. Business degrees at UCD take three years to complete. 
5. Progression to:

•  3 & 4 year Business degrees 
•  Science-related degrees 
•  Health sciences-related degrees 
•  Agriculture and Food Science Related Degrees 
• Architecture and engineering-related degrees 

Scholarships available up to €10,000 over 4 years 

€2,500 for the International Foundation Year and €2,500 for each subsequent year of study at UCD, based on maintaining a B average.  

For more information, please contact/visit your nearest JM Office today

                  

                                                                                                                               Article is courtesy of  University College Dublin

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Swinburne University of Technology - Australia

Top five reasons to choose Swinburne

Swinburne is a world-ranked and internationally recognised university in Melbourne. We equip our students with the knowledge and capabilities they need to establish successful careers through high-quality teaching and industry engagement.

Melbourne is a great destination in which to live and study. The city was named the most liveable city in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit's Global Liveability Index (2011–14).

1. A world-ranked university

Swinburne is ranked in the top 400 universities in the world and in the top 100 universities in the world in the field of physics by the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2015. We produce outstanding research and continue to invest in research infrastructure.

In 2015, Swinburne was also ranked for the first time in the Times Higher Education 100 Under 50 Rankings, an index of the world’s top universities under the age of 50.

Swinburne has also been recognised as having one of the best design schools in the world by the 2015 QS World Rankings of Universities by Subject. The university was one of only four institutions in Melbourne to be listed in the top 100 for the Art and Design subject area.

2. Support services for international students

At Swinburne we offer many services to help you achieve your academic goals and to enhance your life as a student.

We have agents all over the world to help you choose the right course. If you are in Melbourne, we offer one-on-one appointments so that you can speak with a course adviser to answer all your questions.

We care about your wellbeing at Swinburne. We have dedicated International Student Advisers who can provide advice on academic and personal needs. They can help you access study support, health services and counselling.

3. Quality teaching

At Swinburne you will learn from highly experienced staff. Our courses provide access to opportunities that allow you to learn in innovative ways.

Our close ties with industry mean our courses are relevant and up to date. Many of our courses are recognised by professional organisations and they offer you invaluable experiences across all study levels.

4. Prepare for your career

Swinburne is recognised for producing graduates who are ready for employment. We offer a range of programs that extend beyond what you learn in the classroom to prepare you for your career. They include:

• careers and employment services
• projects with industry
• Professional Year Programs
• short-term international study programs
• Student Leadership and Volunteer Program.

5. Fantastic facilities

Our Hawthorn campus has state-of-the-art laboratories and teaching facilities at the Advanced Technologies Centre and the Advanced Manufacturing and Design Centre. There’s on-campus accommodation and the campus is easily accessible by public transport. A range of services is also available on campus, including career and health services.

The Swinburne Advantage

Turning knowing into know-how

New Courses available in 2015

For more information, please contact/visit your nearest JM Office today

                  

                                                                                                                               Article is courtesy of  Swinburne University of Technology

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Saudi MOH Announces 7 New MERS Cases, 3 Fatalities

 

#10,496

 

Another busy update from the Saudi MOH, indicating 7 additional MERS cases in the Saudi capital, and reporting 8 recoveries, and 3 deaths.

 

Remarkably, 4 of the 7 cases announced today are healthcare workers. 

 

Since mid-July, this brings to 28 the number of HCWs reportedly infected with MERS in Saudi Arabia.  A clear indication that after 3 years and 1200 MERS cases - when it comes to identifying, isolating, and safely treating MERS cases – they still don’t have a handle on it. .

 

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Study Suggests Low Dose Aspirin Doesn’t Reduce Flu Vaccine Immune Response

 

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Although it doesn’t answer all of the questions, we’ve a new study that suggests that using low-dose aspirin doesn’t significantly reduce the immune response from flu vaccines in elderly persons, a concern which we’ve looked at several times over the years.

 

About six years ago, in A Few Inflammatory Remarks, we saw several studies that suggested that taking antipyretic medications – like acetaminophen, Aspirin, or other NSAIDs – could reduce the effectiveness of some vaccinations or blunt the level of acquired immunity from actual infection.

 

A study by researchers at the University of Rochester, appearing in the journal  Cell Immunology (see Ibuprofen and other widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit antibody production in human cells) warned:

 

The implications of this research are that the use of widely available NSAIDs after infection or vaccination may lower host defense. This may be especially true for the elderly who respond poorly to vaccines and heavily use NSAIDs.

A study appearing in the Lancet found a similar dampening effect on vaccine response in children given acetaminophen to control post-injection fever.  They advised:

 

Although febrile reactions significantly decreased, prophylactic administration of antipyretic drugs at the time of vaccination should not be routinely recommended since antibody responses to several vaccine antigens were reduced.

 

A couple of months later, in Anti-Inflammatory Meds And Vaccines, we saw animal studies  from the University of Missouri that specifically called out low-dose aspirin as potentially attenuating the effects of flu vaccination.  From their press release.

 

Aspirin, Tylenol May Decrease Effectiveness of Vaccines

Wednesday, December 02, 2009 :: Staff infoZine

Mizzou scientists discover aspirin and Tylenol block enzymes that could inhibit vaccines

Columbia, MO - infoZine - With flu season in full swing and the threat of H1N1 looming, demand for vaccines is at an all-time high. Although those vaccines are expected to be effective, University of Missouri researchers have found further evidence that some over-the-counter drugs, such as aspirin and Tylenol, that inhibit certain enzymes could impact the effectiveness of vaccines.

“If you’re taking aspirin regularly, which many people do for cardiovascular treatment, or acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain and fever and get a flu shot, there is a good chance that you won’t have a good antibody response,” said Charles Brown, associate professor of veterinary pathobiology.

(Continue . . . )

 

The operative word in the above title being `May’, as what works in animals, or in vitro experiments, doesn’t always pan out in the human population. 

Today we’ve the results of a study that looked at the immune response to a single, specific flu vaccine (2009 monovalent H1N1)  in older adults who were taking low-dose aspirin, and compared that to elderly adults not taking LD aspirin, and came away with encouraging news.   

 

Low-dose aspirin use does not diminish the immune response to monovalent H1N1 influenza vaccine in older adults

M. L. JACKSON^{a1 c1}, A. BELLAMY^a2, M. WOLFF^a2, H. HILL^a2 and L. A. JACKSON^a1

^a1 Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA

^a2 The EMMES Corporation, Rockville MD, USA

SUMMARY

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may inhibit antibody production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells; one consequence of this could be decreased effectiveness of vaccines in NSAID users. Because many older adults use low-dose aspirin for primary or secondary prevention of coronary events, any inhibitory effect of aspirin on vaccine immune response could reduce the benefits of vaccination programmes in older adults.

We tested whether immune response to vaccination differed between users vs. non-users of low-dose aspirin, using data from four randomized trials of monovalent 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) vaccine. Geometric mean haemagglutination inhibition antibody titres were not significantly lower in low-dose aspirin users compared to non-users. Our results provide reassurance that influenza vaccination effectiveness is probably not reduced in older adults taking chronic low-dose aspirin.

(Accepted August 19 2015)

 

While encouraging, a few caveats apply here.

This was a limited study, that only looked at the immune response to one specific flu shot, in an elderly cohort that normally sees a reduced immune response to flu vaccines.  How LD aspirin use might affect the immune response in younger individuals wasn’t determined.

 

This study only looked at low-dose aspirin use, and therefore cannot be automatically assumed to apply to other NSAIDs or antipyretics, or larger doses of aspirin.

 

Still, for those who take a daily LD aspirin, this should provide some peace of mind that they probably aren’t sabotaging their yearly flu shot.

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#NatlPrep : Create A Family Communications Plan

 

Note: This is day 6 of National Preparedness Month.  Follow this year’s campaign on Twitter by searching for the #NatlPrep hash tag.  This month, as part of NPM15, I’ll be rerunning some updated  preparedness essays, along with some new ones.

 

# 10,494

 

September is National Preparedness Month , and this year the central theme is “Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.”    

 

High on the list of things in your emergency plan should be a comprehensive family communications plan.

 

Disasters can strike with little or no warning, and some family members may be at school, work, or simply away from home.  In the event of a sudden evacuation or displacement, you’ll want to have a meeting place already decided upon, and for everyone to have a list of emergency contact information.

 

To drive home the message, FEMA has produced a PSA called `Waiting’, which shows anxious parents in a community shelter trying – and failing – to reconnect with their child during a disaster.

 
Ready.gov has produced an updated Emergency Communications planning guide to help you and your family prepare for the kinds of communications interruptions, and separations, that can occur during a disaster.  Below you’ll find easy to use fill-in-the-blanks PDF templates for creating emergency communications cards, and other planning aids.

 

Emergency Communication Plan

This page explains what an emergency communication plan is and why you should make one. It also provides tips and templates on how to make a plan.

 

Why Make a Plan

Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to think about the following situations and plan just in case. Consider the following questions when making a plan:

• How will my family/household get emergency alerts and warnings?
• How will my family/household get to safe locations for relevant emergencies?
• How will my family/household get in touch if cell phone, internet, or landline doesn’t work?
• How will I let loved ones know I am safe?
• How will family/household get to a meeting place after the emergency?

Download and Print a Plan

Here is a template that you can download, print, and fill out:

• For parents (PDF)
• For kids (PDF)
• For transit commuters (PDF)
• For your wallet (PDF)
• Steps to make a plan (PDF)
• Tips on emergency alerts and warnings (PDF)

Here are a few easy steps to start your emergency communication plan:

1. Understand how to receive emergency alerts and warnings. Make sure all household members are able to get alerts about an emergency from local officials. Check with your local emergency management agency to see what is available in your area, and learn more about alerts by visiting: www.ready.gov/alerts.
2. Discuss family/household plans for disasters that may affect your area and plan where to go. Plan together in advance so that everyone in the household understands where to go during a different type of disaster like a hurricane, tornado, or wildfire.  
3. Collect information. Create a paper copy of the contact information for your family that includes:

• phone (work, cell, office)
• email
• social media
• medical facilities, doctors, service providers
• school

4. Identify information and pick an emergency meeting place. Things to consider:

• Decide on safe, familiar places where your family can go for protection or to reunite.
• Make sure these locations are accessible for household members with disabilities or access and functional needs.
• If you have pets or service animals, think about animal-friendly locations.

Examples of meeting places:

• In your neighborhood: A mailbox at the end of the driveway, or a neighbor’s house.
• Outside of your neighborhood: library, community center, place of worship, or family friend’s home.
• Outside of your town or city: home of a relative or family friend. Make sure everyone knows the address of the meeting place and discuss ways you would get there.

5. Share information. Make sure everyone carries a copy in his or her backpack, purse, or wallet. You should also post a copy in a central location in your home, such as your refrigerator or family bulletin board.
6. Practice your plan. Have regular household meetings to review your emergency plans, communication plans and meeting place after a disaster, and then practice, just like you would a fire drill.

 

 

Filling out these cards may seem a small step, but that's what most preparedness involves.

 

Taking small, organized steps that, when put together, create a fabric of individual and community preparedness.  If you do just one small step each day, in almost no time you’ll find yourself and your family far better prepared to face any emergency.

 

For more on how to prepare, visit these websites:

FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm

READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/

AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/

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Jordan: 3rd MERS Fatality Of 2015

 

# 10,493

 

 

The last we heard, the current Jordanian MERS cluster stood at 6 cases, and 2 deaths (see WHO Update On Jordanian MERS Cluster).  Today, the Jordanian News Agency PETRA, and other media outlets, are reporting a third fatality and state the count now stands at seven.

The Jordanian Ministry of Health website provides no details on any of these cases, and so we are forced to rely primarily on fairly thin media reporting.

 

This third fatality is listed as 77 years of age, and suffering from lung cancer.   It is likely this is the third case we first learned about a week ago who was described as `78 years old and suffering from cancer’.   Both the WHO and ECDC updates listed him as being 76 years of age, with `chronic health problems.   

 

Neither account exactly matches today’s report, but are `close’.    

 

Alternatively, it is possible this 3rd fatality is the 7th case of this cluster.   Given the parsimonious nature of the press releases, matching up details on these cases is an `iffy’ proposition.

 

Hopefully the next update from the WHO will fill in some of  the missing details.

 

Jordan recorded a third death Balchorona

Amman, September 5 (Petra) - The Ministry of Health reported Saturday's third death virus Koruna to Jordanian citizen at the age of 77 years he was suffering diagnosed with the disease previously. He Communicable Diseases director Dr Mohamed Abdullat that the deceased was admitted to a private hospital in the capital, and had been suffering from lung cancer.

He added that the ministry has registered 7 HIV infections since the first case of this year died, including 3 cases. - (Petra) OM / Abuallbh 05/09/2015 - 22:19

 

The Jordanian count of cases differs from that kept by other agencies, as they are not counting 7 cases retrospectively identified through serological testing from the first hospital outbreak in April of 2012 (see Serological Testing Of 2012 Jordanian MERS Outbreak).

 

Hence, the ECDC and others show Jordan (as of the 2nd of September) as having 25 cases, and 8 deaths . . . while the Jordanians claimed only 18 cases.

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Saudi MOH Reports 4 More MERS Cases In Riyadh

 

#10,492

 

The Saudi summer MERS surge rolls on with new cases reported for the 34th day running, bringing the number of cases reported by the MOH since August 3rd to 152.  The exact number of cases in Saudi Arabia is somewhat murky due to their decision exclude some asymptomatic cases from their `official’ count.

 

While the vast majority of these cases have emanated from in and around Riyadh – and most are associated with hospital outbreaks – we’ve seen sporadic cases reported in a number of other locations around the country the past few weeks.

 

One of today’s cases is a healthcare worker, with exposure to a confirmed or suspected MERS case.   For two of the other three, their exposure risk history is under review.  Despite three years of dealing with MERS, Saudi hospitals are still struggling to contain the spread of the virus.

 

One death of a previously announced case was also reported. 

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